Where and How to Get Narcan (Naloxone), the Opioid Overdose Antidote
Key takeaways:
Narcan (naloxone) is a life-saving medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. Making Narcan widely available reduces the number of deaths from opioid overdoses.
Narcan became over the counter (OTC) in 2023. You can now find it at pharmacies and some other businesses nationwide. You don’t need a prescription to get OTC Narcan.
Private insurance plans, Medicare, and Medicaid may cover the cost of OTC Narcan. If your plan doesn’t cover it, you may need a prescription. A prescription will also allow you to use a GoodRx discount. You may also be able to receive Narcan for free through several programs in your city or state.
Table of contents
Narcan (naloxone) is a fast-acting medication used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. It comes as an injectable medication and a nasal spray. Other naloxone products, like Zimhi (an injection) and Kloxxado (a nasal spray), are also available.
When given quickly after an overdose, Narcan can be life-saving. Cities and states that have made Narcan more available have seen a decrease in opioid overdose deaths.
Narcan nasal spray is now available over the counter (OTC) in the U.S., which means you don’t need a prescription to get it. But in some cases, having a prescription for Narcan may be helpful. Where and how to get Narcan may differ from person to person.
Keep in mind: Knowing how to administer Narcan nasal spray is important. Learn all the steps for giving Narcan.
How to get Narcan
There are two main ways to get OTC Narcan nasal spray: with and without a prescription. We’ll go through both of these below.
1. Without a prescription
As of September 2023, OTC Narcan nasal spray is available at pharmacies nationwide. This means you should be able to buy Narcan without a prescription at your local pharmacy. You don’t even have to talk to a pharmacist to purchase it. It should be on store shelves alongside other medications and products you can purchase without a prescription, such as supplements, OTC allergy medications, and OTC pain relievers.
However, it may sometimes be hard to find OTC Narcan on store shelves. So call your local pharmacy first to make sure they stock Narcan. They should be able to order it for you if they don’t have it.
If you can’t find OTC Narcan, ask one of the pharmacy employees. Some pharmacies may still stock Narcan nasal spray behind the counter (but you won’t need a prescription to buy it).
2. With a prescription
Although pharmacies nationwide stock Narcan OTC and are able to dispense it without a prescription, there are some situations where you may want to get a prescription for Narcan:
To get your insurance to pay for it: Some private insurance plans may cover the cost of OTC Narcan nasal spray. The same goes for Medicaid and Medicare plans. However, not all plans will. So check with your individual plan You can also ask an employee at your local pharmacy to check for you.
To use a GoodRx discount: Currently, GoodRx discounts can only be used on medications you have a prescription for. To use a GoodRx discount on an OTC product like Narcan nasal spray, you’ll want to ask your healthcare professional for a prescription. You can also get a prescription for Narcan online through GoodRx Care.
How Narcan works: Narcan (naloxone) blocks the effects of opioids. Learn more about how it works and get answers to other frequently asked questions.
How to use Narcan: Knowing which Narcan dose to use and how to administer it will help it quickly stop the effects of an opioid overdose.
How to get Narcan for free: If your insurance doesn’t cover Narcan, or you’re unable to pay for it over the counter, you may be able to get Narcan for free through various community and government programs.
Where to get Narcan
As mentioned, Narcan is available at pharmacies nationwide. This includes pharmacies in major chain drug stores, supermarkets, and big-box stores. Independent pharmacies, convenience stores, and gas stations may also have it.
However, as mentioned above, OTC Narcan isn’t always available where you’d expect it. For example, OTC Narcan may sometimes be hard to find in convenience stores and gas stations.
If you or a loved one takes an opioid, keeping Narcan on hand at all times is important. In the event of an opioid overdose, you’ll need to be ready to administer it. So if you go somewhere to pick up Narcan and it’s not in stock, don’t become discouraged. Check another store, or call a nearby pharmacy first to ask if it’s in stock.
How to save on Narcan
As mentioned, private health insurance plans, Medicare, and Medicaid programs may or may not cover the cost of OTC Narcan. Getting a prescription for OTC Narcan may get your plan to cover it.
A prescription also allows you to use a GoodRx discount. For example, generic Narcan nasal spray at certain pharmacies may be as low as $44.39 with a free GoodRx discount.
Where to get Narcan for free
Besides paying cash, using your insurance, or using a GoodRx discount, you may also be able to get Narcan for free.
Several cities and states have made Narcan more accessible, often for free. You may be able to find free Narcan through city or state programs — sometimes in unexpected places like vending machines and libraries.
The National Harm Reduction Coalition has a Narcan Finder where you can locate community-based programs that offer Narcan. You can also use an online locator from NEXT Distro, an online program that may be able to mail you free Narcan.
Free Narcan may come in the injectable form instead of the nasal spray form. But both forms are safe and effective at preventing death from an opioid overdose.
The bottom line
Narcan (naloxone) is a life-saving medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. Where and how to get Narcan was made easier in 2023 when Narcan became available over the counter (OTC) at pharmacies nationwide. This means you don’t need a prescription for it.
If you have private insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid, your plan may cover the cost of OTC Narcan. But not all insurance plans do. If this is the case, you may be able to save using a GoodRx discount. Or you may be able to get Narcan for free through community-based programs.
Why trust our experts?
If you or someone you know struggles with substance use, help is available. Call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 to learn about resources in your area.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019). Life-saving naloxone from pharmacies.
Facher, L. (2023). A big insurer decides to cover naloxone for overdose; will others follow? Stat News.
Marino, R. (2024). Narcan may have moved over-the-counter, but it’s still underutilized. MedPage Today.
McClellan, C., et al. (2018). Opioid-overdose laws association with opioid use and overdose mortality. Addictive Behaviors.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2022). U.S. surgeon general’s advisory on naloxone and opioid overdose.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2023). FDA approves first over-the-counter naloxone nasal spray.
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